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More Setbacks for Fukushima Power Plant

A treatment system designed to remove radioactive materials from the large amount of water from the Fukushima Number 1 plant was stopped on Saturday. The new system absorbed its limit and had to be replaced much sooner than anticipated according to the Tokyo Electric Power Co, also known as TEPCO.

TEPCO is working to find ways to solve the problems with this new system which would help contain the nuclear crisis still unfolding there. TEPCO hoped that with the new system they could recycle the water to cool the reactors that were damaged during the March earthquake and ensuing tsunami.

The TEPCO head office

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Denying a negative impact on the environment, TEPCO opened the doors on the reactor number 2 to lower humidity inside. This will allow workers to enter the reactor, once the humidity reaches 70 percent, with a facemask. At that point workers can begin injecting nitrogen into the reactor to prevent a hydrogen blast according to the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.

Meanwhile, about 1400 TEPCO employees still await the results of their radiation checkups. This is important because internal radiation increases the chances of cancer and leukemia. These workers risk their lives every day to enter the reactors. A spokesman for the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said the reason for the delay in checkups are that the utility company does not have enough whole body dosimeters for the remaining 1400 workers. These meters are used to measure the radiation in the human body.  Around 3,700 people worked at the Fukushima Number 1 plant from the time the earthquake hit to around the end of the month.

 

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Preparing for a Ski Vacation

Going on a skiing vacation? Whether at Christmas time or in the middle of winter, schussing down the slopes in Alpine Glens is an exhilarating adventure. Before you hit the slopes, you’ll have to do lots of planning to make sure everyone has a good time.

When planning your skiing get-away, there are several things to do to make sure you have the best vacation possible. The first thing to do is to set a budget. When you know your budget, you will be able to determine if you will Ski France or go to a small ski resort in Vermont.

When planning your vacation, determine how much you can spend for the following expenses: ski passes, lodging, meals, airfare, rental of ski equipment (if you don’t have your own), and a car rental that is equipped for driving on snowy roads. Sometimes travel agencies have ski package deals that include all of these things in addition to a free shuttle to and from the airport. Be sure to check what travel agencies have available before you make any reservations on your own.

If you are traveling with children, pack snacks and drinks. Take age appropriate activities to keep them occupied. If you are driving, portable DVD players and movies are especially popular for keeping children happy. Be sure to stop often to get out and stretch.

When packing for your ski trip, be sure to pack proper ski clothing. Every family member will need a ski hat, coat, gloves, ski bibs or snow pants, and insulated stockings. You should also make sure you have plenty of sunscreen and everybody has sunglasses or ski goggles.

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What to Do When Visiting Tokyo

Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, ...

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When planning your vacation to Japan, you’d be morally remiss to not include spending a day or two in Tokyo in your schedule. Tokyo is one of the word’s largest cities and is the largest city and capital of Japan. Because of the sheer size of the city, it would take years to really experience everything Tokyo has to offer. As a result, it may be difficult to decide on what you want to see and where you’d like to visit while in the city. Take a look at the following list for some great ideas.

  • For a stunning view of the city that’s worthy of an entire roll of film in itself, stop by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and take an elevator to the 45th floor. If you’re feeling puckish, stop at the café on the same floor.
  • If you’re into fashion, take a trip to the Harajuko region of Tokyo to get a view of some of the newest, hottest, and most bizarre fashions and style obsessions. Sundays prove to be the most interesting day because that is when the teenagers, who are the most fashion-conscious of the Japanese, are out in full force.
  • Because fish is the basis of so much of Japanese cuisine, stopping at the Tokyo Fish Market is a must. If you get there early, around 7:30 a.m., you can watch the boats dock and bring in their catch. Along the same vein, if you’re feeling adventurous, give sushi a try. The wide array of sushi dishes are a large part of Japanese cusisine and all are served fresh throughout the day at many restaurants.
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What to Know Before Going to Japan

As with any type of trip or vacation abroad, it’s always a good idea to learn as much about your destination country as possible before getting there. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, the most important thing you can do is learn about Japanese customs and etiquette. Some of the things you do at home may not be acceptable overseas. Just as doing one thing can be offensive, neglecting to do another thing can also be offensive. As such, it’s important to take the time to understand Japanese customs.

In Japan, removing your shoes when entering a house, restaurant, and in some cases, businesses is required. In many cases, you should take a suitable gift for your hosts, regardless of who they may be. When you sit down to eat, always use chopsticks—this is a custom as well. Learn to use them before leaving for Japan. When sitting down for a meal, keep the eating end of your sticks away from any food not yours. If helping yourself to more food, use the opposite ends of the chopsticks. The Japanese never pour their own drinks. Be sure to let someone else do this for you.

It is always a good idea to learn the language before going to Japan. While it may be nearly impossible for you to learn the entire language before your trip, you can, at the very least, learn enough to get around. Some of the phrases that you should know before heading overseas are simple, such as hello and goodbye. You should also learn greetings, formal and informal, as the Japanese are very polite and will expect you to be the same.

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Leaving Your Regular Phone at Home

When you travel to a far off place, you have a few different options when it comes to making phone calls. On the one hand, you can always just avoid making any calls whatsoever. If you have ever checked out the prices that a lot of different foreign carriers charge, you might start to wonder if your entire vacation could be doubled in either length or luxury if you simply did not bother with the entire “making phone calls” thing. But on the other hand, you can also go with certain other types of plans, such as calling cards or prepaid cell phones, which can reduce the burden to a great extent.

One of the great things about prepaid cell phones and some calling cards is that they have a great deal of potential for customization. You can get a plan which is tailored to how you are actually going to use the phone, as opposed to just taking on one of a small number of different generic plans. You have the option of simply paying as you go, so you can control the amount of money that you put into this, opposed to simply pouring more and more money into a plan that you may not even use when you are not on a trip.

There is also another great thing about have a prepaid cell phone. If you have ever been on a trip, you know the unfamiliar territory and tendency to move around a lot combine to make for a very difficult time always keeping track of your cell phone. When you have a prepaid phone, you don’t run the risk of losing your personal cell phone (and going through all of that hassle), and you also do not have to worry about losing a massive amount of money through basically having someone else (whom you probably don’t even know) having and using the phone that you lost.

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Advice for Traveling to Japan

Traveling to Japan offers many unique activities, history lessons, new cultural experiences, and so much more among its many islands. When it comes to planning your trip, it can be difficult to settle on certain activities because there are simply just far too many to choose from. However, when making that trip to Japan, there are a few things that you should make sure you do before heading home.

Japan has many modern cities, but Tokyo, because it is the largest, can provide tourists the best modern experience that Japan has to offer. You can hunt down the latest and greatest technological gadgets in the Akihabara district, check out the newest fashion trends in Harajuku, and even head to Shinjuku for some great skyscraper scenery.

As with almost any country, Japan also has an older side steeped in tradition. The city of Kyoto is full of tradition, boasting over 1,000 Buddhist temples and over 400 Shinto shrines, earning it the name “city of a thousand temples.” Kyoto is also home to three different palaces and a museum, and in certain districts, you can see Geisha in their traditional wardrobe. If you really want to stick to tradition while visiting Japan, try staying in a ryokan, a traditional inn.

Depending on when you’ll be visiting Japan, you’ll likely be able to catch one of the many festivals that take place throughout the year. In the winter months, you can see the New Year’s fireworks or participate in Yuki Matsuri, otherwise known as the February Snow Festival. During the spring months, the more traditional festivals takes place, such as the Obon festivals, which last three days and honor the dead. There are also festivals in honor of the cherry blossom season. The more traditional festivals tend to take place in areas like Kyoto and Kamakura.

A piece of sound advice is to avoid traveling to Japan during holidays. Fares for lodging, as well as public transportation will be higher during these periods.

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